System and apparatus comprising a multi-sensor catheter for right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization
Inventors
GLOVER, Christopher • Caron, Eric • ABEL, Sylvain
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11197619-B2
Publication Date
2021-12-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and apparatus comprising a multi-sensor catheter for right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization is disclosed. The multi-sensor catheter comprises multi-lumen catheter tubing into which at least three optical pressure sensors, and their respective optical fibers, are inserted. The three optical pressure sensors are arranged within a distal end portion of the catheter, spaced apart lengthwise within the distal end portion for measuring pressure concurrently at each sensor location. The sensor locations are configured for placement of at least one sensor in each of the right atrium, the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, for concurrent measurement of pressure at each sensor location. The sensor arrangement may further comprise an optical thermo-dilution sensor, and another lumen is provided for fluid injection for thermo-dilution measurements. The catheter may comprise an inflatable balloon tip and a guidewire lumen, and preferably has an outside diameter of 6 French or less.
Core Innovation
The invention discloses a system and catheter for right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization that uses a multi-lumen multi-sensor catheter with at least three spatially separated optical pressure sensors. The optical pressure sensors are positioned concurrently within the right atrium, right ventricle, and pulmonary artery so that multiple pressure waveforms are measured at substantially the same time during cardiac catheterization.
Each optical pressure sensor is coupled to an optical fiber, and the optical fibers are routed through the catheter lumens to an optical input/output connector for connection to an optical control system. The catheter includes apertures adjacent the optical pressure sensors for fluid contact, and the system enables concurrent display of multiple pressure waveforms and derived hemodynamic numeric parameters/pressure gradients.
The catheter can further include an inflatable balloon tip and an optional guidewire lumen, with balloon inflation carried by a balloon inflation lumen/port. When the balloon is inflated, the catheter is used to enable measurement related to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), and the disclosed optical multi-sensor arrangement is described relative to conventional Swan-Ganz catheter pressure sensing limitations by emphasizing simultaneous multi-location pressure waveform acquisition.
Claims Coverage
The partial claim set includes two independent claims. Both independent claims cover direct measurement or monitoring of blood pressure using multiple optical pressure sensors positioned at spaced sensor locations within a distal catheter portion to provide concurrent measurements during cardiac catheterization.
Concurrent blood pressure waveform measurement with spaced optical pressure sensors
A multi-sensor catheter includes multiple lumens in a catheter tubing, and a plurality of optical sensors with corresponding optical fibers. The optical fibers are optically coupled to individual optical sensors and are spaced apart lengthwise so that the optical sensors are positioned at respective sensor locations within a distal end portion. Apertures adjacent each optical pressure sensor provide fluid contact, and the sensor locations are configured for positioning the at least two optical pressure sensors within specified chambers/great vessels to provide concurrent measurements of blood pressure waveforms during cardiac catheterization.
Concurrent blood pressure monitoring with first and second optical pressure sensor locations
A multi-sensor catheter includes first and second optical pressure sensors and first and second optical fibers optically coupled to the pressure sensors. The optical fibers are inserted respectively into first and second lumens and are spaced apart lengthwise to provide first and second optical pressure sensors at first and second sensor locations within a distal end portion. Apertures adjacent each optical pressure sensor provide fluid contact, and the first and second sensor locations are configured as one of specified paired sites to provide concurrent blood pressure measurements during cardiac catheterization.
Overall, the independent claims focus on optical multi-sensor catheter designs that position optical pressure sensors at spaced locations within a distal portion to enable concurrent blood pressure waveform measurements at anatomically defined chambers and vessels during cardiac catheterization.
Stated Advantages
Enables concurrent measurements of blood pressure waveforms by positioning multiple optical pressure sensors at specified chambers and/or great vessels during cardiac catheterization.
Enables concurrent blood pressure measurements by spaced-apart optical pressure sensors positioned at selected paired anatomical sites.
Improves over conventional approaches by addressing limitations associated with pressure measured at a single tip at different times.
Documented Applications
Right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization using a multi-sensor catheter with optical pressure sensors positioned in the right atrium, right ventricle, and pulmonary artery for concurrent pressure waveform acquisition during cardiac catheterization.
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